Hand dryer

ABSTRACT

A hand dryer has a body case with a blower with an air-blowing nozzle on its lower surface, and a water receiver disposed below the body case and forming a hand-inserting space with the body case. The water receiver is detachable from the body case. The water receiver has a receiving portion which covers a lower front surface, a back surface which is connected to the receiving portion and which covers a wall surface, and a pair of side surfaces, connected to the receiving portion, rising from opposite sides of the back surface. Water receiver-side retaining portions are on upper portions of the side surfaces, body case-side retaining portions are on opposite sides of the body case, and the water receiver is mounted to the body case by the water receiver-side retaining portions and the body case-side retaining portions. The water receiver-side retaining portions are hooked on the body case-side retaining portions, so that the water receiver can be fixed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hand dryer for drying wet hands afterhand washing at a lavatory, a bathroom and the like.

BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE

Conventionally, a hand dryer of this kind is known and described inJapanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H10-99235.

The described hand dryer will be explained with reference to FIG. 17.

As shown in FIG. 17, a body case 101 fixed to a wall surface comprises afront case 102 and a water-receiving bowl 103 which projects from alower portion of the body case 101. A drying space 102 a is formedbetween the front case 102 and the water-receiving bowl 103. Blowermeans 104, heating means 105 and control means 108 are provided in thefront case 102. The front case 102 is provided at its lower end with anair-blowing nozzle 106 which is oriented toward the drying space 102 a.The water-receiving bowl 103 is provided at its back lower portion withan air-intake opening 117 for drawing air into the blower means 104. Thewater-receiving bowl 103 has a communication tube 113 which is incommunication with a water-receiving cup 114. The water-receiving cup114 is disposed below the water-receiving bowl 103, and is detachablymounted to the water-receiving bowl 103 from its front surface side. Thewater-receiving cup 114 is provided at its upper surface with awater-receiving cup cover 121. The air-intake opening 117 is providedwith a filter frame 122.

In the above structure, if a wet hand is inserted into the drying space102 a, air is drawn from the air-intake opening 117 by the blower means104, the air passes through the heating means 105 and becomes hot air,and the hot air is injected from the air-blowing nozzle 106. Waterattached to the hand is scattered by the air injected from theair-blowing nozzle 106 to dry the hand. At that time, drops of waterscattered from the hand are gathered into the water-receiving bowl 103,and are gathered from the communication tube 113 into thewater-receiving cup 114.

In such a conventional hand dryer, since drops of water scattered fromthe hand are received into the water receiver and accumulated in thewater-receiving cup 114, a wall or a floor is not made dirty. However,there is a case in which a water receiver is not required depending uponuse or a place such as an upper portion of a sink in a bathroom. In anarrow place, the water receiver becomes an obstacle, or the waterreceiver can not be mounted in some cases. Further, when the waterreceiver is made dirty, since the water receiver can not be washedwhole, there is a problem in terms of hygienics and appearance.

Therefore, it is required that a user can freely attach and detach thewater receiver depending upon place or use, and when the water receiveris made dirty, only the water receiver can be detached and washed whole.

When a retained-state releasing operation of the water receiver iscarried out from outside of the side surface of the water receiver orfrom side front surface of the water receiver, a side wall hinders theoperation and fingers can not move strongly and thus operability isinferior, and design of outward appearance is deteriorated. Thus, it isrequired that the retained-state releasing operation of the waterreceiver can easily be carried out without being influenced by the wallsurface, and the outward appearance is not deteriorated.

If the water receiver is designed such that it can be detached from thebody case, a connection portion between the water receiver and the bodycase becomes weak, rattling of front and rear portions of the waterreceiver becomes great, and there is an adverse possibility that thewater receiver comes off and falls out.

Therefore, when the water receiver is designed such that it can bedetachable from the body case, it is especially required that the rattleof the front and rear portions of the water receiver is not generated.

When the hand dryer is used in a state in which the water receiver isonly retained to the body case, if a child tampers and applies a load tothe water receiver, there is an adverse possibility that the retainedstate is released and the water receiver falls out.

Therefore, it is required that even when a slight load is applied to thewater receiver, there is no adverse possibility that the water receivercomes off and falls out.

When opposite sides of the water-receiving cup 114 are held, since leftand right rails are excessively separated from each other, it isdifficult to fit the water-receiving cup 114 to the left and right railsat the same time, and the operability is inferior.

Therefore, it is required to enhance the attaching and detachingperformance of the water-receiving cup without increasing costs and thenumber of assembling steps.

When a mounting position of the hand dryer body case is close to areceptacle and an excessive length of a power cord remains, the powercord encumbers, and the appearance of the mounting place isdeteriorated.

Therefore, it is required that the remaining power cord can be disposeof so that the power cord does not encumber or deteriorate thelandscape.

When water which was scattered at the time of use is drawn from anintake opening or water enters into the body case by condensation, thewater is accumulated, which causes leakage or corrosion and affects anelectrical component.

Therefore, it is required that even if water enters into the body case,the water is not accumulated in the body case and is discharged out, theelectrical component is not adversely affected, and the discharged waterdoes not drop onto the floor.

When the front case 102 is designed such that it can freely be openedand closed in view of service and construction work, a LED displayportion must be provided on the side of the body case not on the side ofthe front case because a leadwire encumbers. However, when the frontcase 102 is opened and closed, if the front case or hand hits againstthe LED and legs of the LED fall, positions of a display hole and theLED are misaligned from each other.

Therefore, it is required that even when the front case 102 is openedand closed, positions of the display hole and the LED can be aligned toeach other with small number of parts and small number of assemblingsteps.

The present invention has been achieved to solve such conventionalproblems, and it is an object of the invention to provide a hand dryerin which the hand dryer can be used in a state in which a user canfreely attach and detach the water receiver depending upon place or use,and when the water receiver is made dirty, only the water receiver canbe detached and washed whole.

It is another object of the invention to provide a hand dryer in whichexcessive power cord can be disposed of such that the excessive powercord does not encumber for use and the landscape is not deteriorated.

It is another object of the invention to provide a hand dryer in whicheven if water enters into the body case, the water is not accumulated inthe body case, the water can be discharged out, an electrical componentis not adversely affected, and discharged water does not fall onto thefloor.

It is another object of the invention to provide a hand dryer in whicheven if a front case is opened and closed, the positions of a displayhole and a LED are not deviated from each other, and in which there aresmall costs and a small number of assembling steps.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A hand dryer according to a first aspect of the present inventioncomprises a body case provided therein with a blower means and at itslower surface with an air-blowing nozzle, and a water receiver disposedbelow the body case and forming a hand-inserting space between the bodycase and the water receiver, the water receiver is detachable withrespect to the body case in a state in which the body case is disposed,the water receiver comprises a receiving portion which covers a lowerfront surface, a back surface which is connected to the receivingportion and which covers a wall surface, and a pair of side surfaceswhich are connected to the receiving portion to form rising portionsfrom opposite sides of the back surface, water receiver-side retainingportions are respectively provided on upper portions of the sidesurfaces, body case-side retaining portions are respectively provided onopposite sides of the body case, the water receiver is mounted to thebody case by the water receiver-side retaining portions and the bodycase-side retaining portions.

According to this aspect, if a user grasps the side surfaces of oppositesides of the water receiver and sets the water receiver-side retainingportions to the body case-side retaining portions, the waterreceiver-side retaining portions are hooked on the body case-sideretaining portions, and the water receiver can be fixed.

Therefore, the user can freely attach and detach the water receiverdepending upon place or use, and when the water receiver is made dirty,only the water receiver can be detached and washed whole.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the hand dryer of thefirst aspect, retained-state releasing means for releasing a retainedstate between the water receiver-side retaining portion and the bodycase-side retaining portion is provided on each of the inner surfaces ofthe side surfaces constituting the water receiver.

According to this aspect, when the user detaches the water receiver,since the retained-state releasing means is provided on each of theinner surfaces of the side surfaces, the operation can be carried outusing thumbs which can easily be strained.

Therefore, the hand dryer is disposed in a narrow space, the waterreceiver can easily be attached and detached, and the outward appearanceis not deteriorated by the retained-state releasing means.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the hand dryer of thefirst aspect, the pair of side surfaces constituting the water receiverare respectively provided at their upper portions with waterreceiver-side connection portions, the body case is provided at itsopposite, sides with body case-side connection portions, respectively,and a guider capable of slide the water receiver in a vertical directionwith respect to the body case is constituted by the water receiver-sideconnection portion and the body case-side connection portion.

According to this aspect, when the water receiver is connected to thebody case, since the water receiver-side connection portion is fittedalong the body water receiver-side connection portion, the connectionbetween the body case and the water receiver is strengthened by theguider, and the rattle in the front and rear portions of the waterreceiver can be eliminated.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the hand dryer of thefirst aspect, the back surface constituting the water receiver isprovided at its upper central portion with a water receiver-fixing screwwhich connects the body case to the water receiver.

According to this aspect, the body case and the water receiver canreliably be fixed, and an adverse possibility that the water receivercomes off and falls out is eliminated, and a safe hand dryer can beobtained.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the hand dryer of thefirst aspect, a water-receiving cup is detachably mounted to a lowerportion of the water receiver.

According to this aspect, since only the water-receiving cup can beattached and detached, water can easily be discharged and thewater-receiving cup can easily be washed.

A hand dryer according to a sixth aspect of the invention comprises abody case provided therein with a blower means and at its lower surfacewith an air-blowing nozzle, and a water receiver disposed below the bodycase and forming a hand-inserting space between the body case and thewater receiver, the water receiver is detachable with respect to thebody case in a state in which the body case is disposed, the waterreceiver is provided at its lower portion with a water-receiving cup,the water receiver is provided at its substantially central portion ofits back bottom with a reversed T-shaped rail extending in alongitudinal direction, the water-receiving cup is provided at its uppersurface with a guide groove formed by notching the upper surface fromits rear portion.

According to this aspect, if the guide groove of the water-receiving cupis inserted to the reversed T-shaped rail, the water-receiving cup issupported by the reversed T-shaped lateral rib from below and thus, itis possible to detachably hold the water-receiving cup.

A hand dryer according to a seventh aspect of the invention comprises abody case provided therein with a blower means and at its lower surfacewith an air-blowing nozzle, and a water receiver disposed below the bodycase and forming a hand-inserting space between the body case and thewater receiver, the water receiver is detachable with respect to thebody case in a state in which the body case is disposed, a box-likeaccommodating portion for accommodating a power cord which supplieselectricity to the blower means is provided such that the box-likeaccommodating portion is opened at a back side of the body case.

According to this aspect, a length of the power cord is determined atthe time of construction, and a remaining portion of the power cord isaccommodated in the box-like accommodating portion and then, the bodycase is mounted to the wall. Therefore, the remaining portion of thepower cord does not encumber for use and does not deteriorate thelandscape.

A hand dryer according to an eighth aspect of the invention comprises abody case provided therein with a blower means and at its lower surfacewith an air-blowing nozzle, and a water receiver disposed below the bodycase and forming a hand-inserting space between the body case and thewater receiver, the water receiver is detachable with respect to thebody case in a state in which the body case is disposed, the body caseis provided at its lower surface with an intake opening for drawing airin the hand-inserting space by suction force of the blower means, awater hole is provided in a wind path extending from the intake openingto the blower means, the water hole is located above the water receiver.

According to this aspect, even when water scattered from the hand at thetime of use is drawn from the intake opening or water enters into thebody case by the condensation, since the water drops to the waterreceiver from the water hole and is accumulated in the water-receivingcup. Therefore, there is no electrical trouble which may be caused bysubmerging the electrical component such as the hand detecting sensor,and a floor is not wet.

A hand dryer according to a ninth aspect of the invention comprises abody case provided therein with a blower means and at its lower surfacewith an air-blowing nozzle, and a water receiver disposed below the bodycase and forming a hand-inserting space between the body case and thewater receiver, the water receiver is detachable with respect to thebody case in a state in which the body case is disposed, the blowermeans includes a blower case having a display board, the display boardis provided with a light-emitting diode, the body case is provided witha display hole capable of visually check the light-emitting diode, a LEDholding portion is provided around the light-emitting diode.

According to this aspect, the LED holding portion can prevent the legsof the light-emitting diode from falling. Therefore, even if the frontcase is opened and closed at the time of construction or maintenance,the display hole of the front case and the LED can be aligned to eachother.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a hand dryer according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hand dryer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hand dryer showing a state in whicha water receiver is separated from a body case.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hand dryer showing an operatingstate for separating the water receiver from the body case.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an essential portion of the hand dryershowing a water receiver-side connection portion and a body case-sideconnection portion.

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of an essential portion of the handdryer showing a retained-state releasing means.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of an essential portion of the handdryer showing a water receiver-fixing screw.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of an essential portion of the handdryer showing the water receiver-fixing screw.

FIG. 9 is a front sectional view of an essential portion of the handdryer showing the water receiver and a water-receiving cup.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the hand dryer showing the water receiverand the water-receiving cup.

FIG. 11 is a front view of an essential portion of the hand dryershowing an interior of the body case.

FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of an essential portion of the handdryer showing a state in which a power cord is accommodated in abox-like accommodating portion.

FIG. 13 is a side sectional view of the hand dryer showing a flow ofwater when water enters into the body case.

FIG. 14 is a side sectional view of the hand dryer showing a positionalrelation between a front case and a LED (light-emitting diode).

FIG. 15 is a partial detailed view showing the LED and its surroundings.

FIG. 16(a) is a partial detailed view showing a state until a LEDholding portion holds the LED.

FIG. 16(b) is a partial detailed view showing a positional relationbetween the LED holding portion and legs of the LED.

FIG. 17 is a side sectional view of a conventional hand dryer.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be explained with referenceto the drawings below.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a hand dryer according to anembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of thehand dryer. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hand dryer showing astate in which a water receiver is separated from a body case. FIG. 4 isa perspective view of the hand dryer showing an operating state forseparating the water receiver from the body case. FIG. 5 is aperspective view of an essential portion of the hand dryer showing awater receiver-side connection portion and a body case-side connectionportion. FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of an essential portion of thehand dryer showing a retained-state releasing means. FIG. 7 is a sidesectional view of an essential portion of the hand dryer showing a waterreceiver-fixing screw. FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of an essentialportion of the hand dryer showing the water receiver-fixing screw.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 5 and 6, a body case 1 has an exteriorcomprising a front case 2A for covering a front surface, a ceilingsurface and opposite side surfaces, and a rear case 2B for covering awall surface side. A first rear hardware 2C and a second rear hardware2D are provided on the rear case 2B on the wall surface side. The firstrear hardware 2C includes a tongue piece which engages with a hookinghardware 16. The hooking hardware 16 is fixed to the wall surface bymeans of a screw or the like. The second rear hardware 2D can be fixedto the wall surface by means of a screw or the like.

The body case 1 is provided therein with an air-blowing nozzle 4 whichis in communication with the blower means 3 for blowing air, and acontrol means 5 for controlling the electrical component. The blowermeans 3 comprises a blower motor 3A for generating air flow, and ablower case 3B. The blower means 3 and the air-blowing nozzle 4 aresealed by a packing 6 and connected to each other. A wind path in theair-blowing nozzle 4 is provided with heating means 7 for heating air.The body case 1 is provided at its lower surface with an injectingopening of the air-blowing nozzle 4, an intake opening 8,through whichair is sent into the body case 1, a filter 9 for removing dust in theair drawn from the intake opening 8, and a hand detecting sensor 10 fordetecting a hand by means of infrared rays. The blower case 3B isprovided with a display board 12 for displaying an operating state on aLED (light-emitting diode) 11, and a terminal mount 13 for supplyingelectricity to the electrical component.

The front case 2A is engaged with the rear case 2B by a case pawl 14provided on a rear end of the ceiling surface. The front case 2A isdetachably mounted to the rear case 2B by means of this case pawl 14. Afront surface of the front case 2A is provided with a display hole 15for emitting light of the LED 11 outside.

The body case 1 is fixed by hooking the first rear hardware 2C on thehooking hardware 16 fixed to the wall surface.

On the other hand, a hand-inserting space 18 for drying a hand is formedby the water receiver 19 below the body case 1. The water receiver 19comprises a receiving portion 19A for covering a lower front surface, aback surface 19C connected to the receiving portion 19A for covering thewall surface side, and a pair of side surfaces 19B connected to thereceiving portion 19A for forming rising portions from opposite sides ofthe back surface 19C. The pair of side surfaces 19B surround thehand-inserting space 18. Drops of water scattered from the hand arereceived mainly by the receiving portion 19A. A water-receiving cup 20for accommodating the drops of water is provided on a back bottomsurface of the water receiver 19. The water-receiving cup 20 is providedtherein with a lid-like cup cover 21.

As shown in FIG. 5, each of the side surfaces 19B is provided at itsupper portion with a water receiver-side retaining portion 23A. The bodycase 1 is provided at its lower portion with a body case-side retainingportion 23B. The water receiver-side retaining portion 23A moves upwardand is retained with the body case-side retaining portion 23B.

The side surface 19B is provided at its upper potion with aretained-state releasing means 24 for releasing the retained statebetween the water receiver-side retaining portion 23A and the bodycase-side retaining portion 23B so that the water receiver 19 can beseparated from the body case 1.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the retained-state releasing means 24 isprovided on an inner surface of the side surface 19B. That is, theretained-state releasing means 24 has a projecting portion which isconnected to the water receiver-side retaining portion 23A. If theprojecting portion is pressed, the water receiver-side retaining portion23A can resiliently be deformed. A through hole is formed in the innersurface of the side surface 19B, and the projecting portion is disposedin the through hole. In a state in which the projecting portion projectsfrom the through hole, the water receiver-side retaining portion 23A isretained to the body case-side retaining portion 23B, and if theprojecting portion is pushed into the through hole, the retained statebetween the water receiver-side retaining portion 23A and the bodycase-side retaining portion 23B is released.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the side surface 19B of the water receiver 19is provided at its upper portion with the water receiver-side connectionportion 25, and the body case 1 is provided at its opposite sides withbody case-side connection portions 26 respectively. The waterreceiver-side connection portion 25 and the body case-side connectionportion 26 constitute a guider capable of allowing the water receiver 19to slide in the vertical direction with respect to the body case 1.Notches are formed in lower portions on opposite sides of the body case1 on the wall surface side. Upper ends of the side surfaces 19B can befitted into the notches. The water receiver-side connection portion 25is connected to the body case-side connection portion 26 such that thewater receiver-side connection portion 25 overlaps with the body case 1.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a female thread portion 28 is provided on alower portion of the second rear hardware 2D which is provided on a backside of the rear case 2B. The female thread portion 28 is located belowthe body case 1, and is located at an upper portion of the back surface19C. The second rear hardware 2D has a threaded hole through which thesecond rear hardware 2D is fixed to the wall surface. This threaded holeis also located below the body case 1 and is located in an upper portionof the back surface 19C.

A water receiver-fixing screw 29 is provided in an upper central portionof the back surface 19C of the water receiver 19. An abutting rib 30 forpreventing the water receiver-fixing screw 29 from being too closelyfastened is provided on a back surface of the back surface 19C at alocation where the water receiver-fixing screw 29 is mounted. The waterreceiver-fixing screw 29 is provided with a washer 31 so that the waterreceiver-fixing screw 29 does not come out from the water receiver 19.Therefore, by fastening the water receiver-fixing screw 29 into thefemale thread portion 28, the water receiver 19 is fixed to the bodycase 1.

The operation of the hand dryer according to the embodiment will beexplained below.

If a hand is inserted into the hand-inserting space 18 of the waterreceiver 19, the hand detecting sensor 10 detects the hand, and theblower means 3 and the heating means 7 are operated through the controlmeans 5. By the operation of the blower means 3, air is drawn into theintake opening 8 through the filter 9, and becomes hot air by theheating means 7, and the hot air is sent out into the hand-insertingspace 18 at high speed by the diameter-reduced air-blowing nozzle 4.

The sent out high speed hot air collides against a surface of the hand,and scatters and dries the drops of water. The scattered drops of waterare received by the water receiver 19 and accumulated in thewater-receiving cup 20. By repeating this action, dirt and dust in theoutside air are collected by the filter 9, and water is accumulated inthe water-receiving cup 20.

The operational states such as “operating”, “stop”, “abnormal” and thelike are displayed on the LED 11 of the display board 12 so that theoperational states can be checked from outside through the display hole15 of the front case 2A.

When the water receiver 19 is to be detached from the body case 1, ifthe retained-state releasing means 24 is pushed, the water receiver-sideretaining portion 23A is detached from the body case-side retainingportion 23B, and the water receiver 19 can be separated from the bodycase 1. When the water receiver 19 is to be mounted to the body case 1on the contrary, if the water receiver 19 is set to the body case 1, thewater receiver-side retaining portion 23A is hooked on the bodycase-side retaining portion 23B, and the water receiver 19 can beconnected to the body case 1.

In this manner, the water receiver 19 can be attached to and detachedfrom the body case 1 in a state in which the body case 1 is installed.Therefore, a user can freely attach and detach the water receiver 19depending upon a place or use, and when the water receiver 19 is madedirty, only the water receiver 19 can be detached and washed whole.

When the water receiver 19 is to be separated from the body case 1,since the retained-state releasing means 24 exists on each of the innersurfaces of the side surfaces 19B of the water receiver 19, both handscan grasp the left and right side surfaces 19B and the retained-statereleasing means 24 can be pushed by thumbs which can easily be strained.Therefore, the operation can be facilitated, and the outward appearanceis not deteriorated by the retained-state releasing means 24.

When the water receiver 19 is to be mounted to the body case 1, thewater receiver-side connection portion 25 is inserted into the bodycase-side connection portion 26 and fixed. At that time, the waterreceiver-side connection portion 25 and the body case-side connectionportion 26 constitute the guider which can allow the water receiver 19to slide in the vertical direction with respect to the body case 1.Therefore, rattle of the front and rear portions of the water receiver19 can be eliminated by holding the guider.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, after the water receiver 19 is mounted to thebody case 1 by the water receiver-side retaining portion 23A and thebody case-side retaining portion 23B, if the water receiver-fixing screw29 is screwed into the female thread portion 28, the water receiver 19is sandwiched and fixed between the water receiver-fixing screw 29 andthe female thread portion 28. When the water receiver 19 is to bedetached on the contrary, the water receiver-fixing screw 29 is firstloosened and removed from the female thread portion 28 and then, if theretained-state releasing means 24 is pushed, the water receiver-sideretaining portion 23A is detached from the body case-side retainingportion 23B and can be separated from the body case 1. At that time, ifthe water receiver-fixing screw 29 is loosened, the waterreceiver-fixing screw 29 comes off forward, the falling-preventingwasher 31 itself is also pushed out toward a tip end of the waterreceiver-fixing screw 29. However, since the water receiver 19 isfloated by the abutting rib 30, the washer 31 does not fall.

Next, the attaching and detaching structure of the water receiver andthe water-receiving cup will be explained next using FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 9 is a front sectional view of an essential portion of the handdryer showing the water receiver and a water-receiving cup. FIG. 10 is abottom, view of the hand dryer showing the water receiver and thewater-receiving cup.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a reversed T-shaped rail 32 is provided on asubstantially central portion of a back bottom surface of the waterreceiver 19 in the longitudinal direction. Lateral ribs 34 are providedon opposite sides of the rail 32. Notches 36 are formed in front of thelateral ribs 34.

On the other hand, a guide groove 33 is formed in substantially acentral portion on an upper surface of the water-receiving cup 20 bynotching from a rear portion of the upper surface. The guide groove 33is wider than a width of the rail 32, and the rail 32 can be located inthe guide groove 33. Lateral ribs 34 can slide on the opposite sides ofthe guide groove 33. Cup projecting portions 35 which engage with thenotches 36 are formed in front of the opposite sides of the guide groove33.

With the above structure, the water-receiving cup 20 is suspended by thelateral ribs 34 formed on the opposite sides of the rail 32, and thewater-receiving cup 20 can slide with respect to the water receiver 19in the longitudinal direction. In a state in which the water-receivingcup 20 is mounted to the water receiver 19, the cup projecting portions35 are accommodated in the notches 36 of the rail 32. Water receiverholes 37 provided in left and right portions of the water receiver 19and cup cover holes 38 provided in the cup cover 21 are formed such thattheir positions become the same in a state in which the water-receivingcup 20 is mounted to the water receiver 19.

With the above structure, drops of water scattered by high speed hot airfrom the air-blowing nozzle 4 are received by the water receiver 19, andcollected in the water-receiving cup 20 from the water receiver holes 37through the cup cover holes 38.

The water-receiving cup 20 is mounted in such a manner that the guidegroove 33 of the water-receiving cup 20 is inserted to the rail 32 ofthe water receiver 19 from a front side, and the water-receiving cup 20is supported by the lateral ribs 34 from below. When the guide grooves33 of the water-receiving cup 20 are to be inserted to the rail 32 ofthe water receiver 19, the cup projecting portions 35 ride over thelateral ribs 34 and if the guide grooves 33 are further inserted, thecup projecting portions 35 are fitted into the notches 36 and can befixed at appropriate positions. If the water-receiving cup 20 is pulledout forward on the contrary, the cup projecting portions 35 ride overthe lateral ribs 34, and if the water-receiving cup 20 is further pulledout, the cup projecting portions 35 are disengaged from the lateral ribs34, and the water-receiving cup 20 can be detached. In this manner,since the cup projecting portions 35 are fitted into and disengaged fromthe notches 36, click feeling when the water-receiving cup 20 isattached and detached can be obtained.

Next, accommodation of the power cord of the hand dryer will beexplained.

FIG. 11 is a front view of an essential portion of the hand dryershowing an interior of the body case. FIG. 12 is a side sectional viewof an essential portion of the hand dryer showing a state in which apower cord is accommodated in a box-like accommodating portion.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a box-like accommodating portion 40 has acord-retracting opening 39. The box-like accommodating portion 40projects from a rear portion of the body case 1 into the body case 1.That is, a back surface side of the box-like accommodating portion 40 isopened. A tip end of one of ends of the power cord 42 has a power supplyplug 41, and the other end of the power cord 42 is pulled into the bodycase 1 from the back side of the body case 1 through the cord-retractingopening 39 and is connected to the terminal mount 13. The power cord 42can be fixed by means of a clip A 43 near an inlet of thecord-retracting opening 39 and a clip B 44 on the back side of the bodycase 1.

First, the power cord 42 is connected to the terminal mount 13, thepower cord 42 is fixed by means of the clip A 43 in the body case 1, anecessary length of the power cord 42 to a place where electricity canbe supplied from the power supply is determined, and the power cord 42is fixed by means of the clip B 44. Then, remaining power cord 42 iswound and accommodated in the box-like accommodating portion 40, thesecond rear hardware 2D is hooked on the hooking hardware 16 to fix thebody case 1.

Next, a structure for preventing water from entering into the body casewill be explained.

FIG. 13 is a side sectional view of the hand dryer showing a flow ofwater when water enters into the body case.

As shown in FIG. 13, a water hole 45 is provided in a lowermost portionof the body case 1 and directly above the receiving portion 19A of thewater receiver 19.

With the above structure, when body case 1 is subjected to water ordrops of water scattered from a hand is drawing from the intake opening8 or water enters into the body case 1 by condensation or the like,since the water hole 45 is formed in the lowermost portion of the bodycase 1, water flows toward the lowermost portion of the body case 1 andis discharged outside from the water hole 45 without submerging anelectrical component such as the hand detecting sensor 10. Water whichis discharged out is received by the receiving portion 19A of the waterreceiver 19 located directly below, and can be accommodated in thewater-receiving cup 20 from the water receiver holes 37 through the cupcover holes 38.

Next, a structure in which even if the front case is opened and closed,positions of the display hole and the LED are not deviated from eachother will be explained.

FIG. 14 is a side sectional view of the hand dryer showing a positionalrelation between a front case and a LED (light-emitting diode). FIG. 15is a partial detailed view showing the LED and its surroundings. FIG.16(a) is a partial detailed view showing a state until a LED holdingportion holds the LED. FIG. 16(b) is a partial detailed view showing apositional relation between the LED holding portion and legs of the LED.

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the body case 1 comprises the rear case 2Bprovided on a back surface of the body case 1, and a front case 2A whichis detachably mounted to the front surface of the body case 1. The frontcase 2A is opened and closed around the case pawl 14 as a fulcrum. Thefront case 2A includes the display hole 15. The front surface of theblower case 3B includes the display board 12. The LED 11 for indicatingthe ON/OFF of the power supply and trouble of the motor is mounted tothe display board 12. The display hole 15 is provided at a positionwhere the LED 11 of the display board 12 can be visually checked whenthe front case 2A is mounted to the body case 1.

The air-blowing nozzle 4 is connected and fixed to the blower case 3B.

A tongue 46 is provided on the air-blowing nozzle 4 on its side which isconnected and fixed to the blower case 3B. The tongue 46 is providedwith a LED holding portion 47 comprising an arc rib.

The LED 11 is provided such that its two legs 11A are arranged in thevertical direction. The LED holding portion 47 comprises a right holdingportion 47D and a left holding portion 47B which are disposed such as tosandwich the legs 11A of the LED 11 and the nozzle-side holding portion47C which is disposed in a perpendicular direction with respect to anarrangement direction of the legs 11A of the LED 11. The LED holdingportion 47 is formed with an opening 47A on the side which is opposed tothe nozzle-side holding portion 47C.

Although two LEDs were used in the lateral direction in the embodiment,the number of LEDs is not limited to two of course.

With the above structure, when the air-blowing nozzle 4 is to be mountedto the blower case 3B, the display board 12 is pushed by the tongue 46of the air-blowing nozzle 4 and held. Heads of the LED 11 can be heldperpendicularly to the display board 12 by guiding the LED 11 using theLED holding portion 47. With this arrangement, when the front case 2A isopened and closed, it is possible to prevent the LED 11 and the displayhole 15 of the front case 2A from being deviated from each other.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention as described above, a user can freelyattach and detach the water receiver depending upon place or use, andwhen the water receiver is made dirty, only the water receiver can bedetached and washed whole.

When a user detaches the water receiver, he or she grasps the both sidesurfaces of the water receiver and detaches the water receiver. Sincethe retained-state releasing means is provided on each of the innersurfaces of the side surfaces, the operation can be carried out usingthumbs which can easily be strained, and the retained-state releasingmeans can be provided without deteriorating the outward appearance.

When the water receiver is connected to the body case, since the waterreceiver-side connection portion is fitted along the body waterreceiver-side connection portion, the connection between the body caseand the water receiver is strengthened by the guider, and the rattle inthe front and rear portions of the water receiver can be eliminated.

When the water receiver is mounted to the body case, if the waterreceiver-fixing screw is fastened to the female thread portion, the bodycase and the water receiver can reliably be fixed to each other, and itis possible to prevent the water receiver from coming out.

If the guide groove of the water-receiving cup is inserted to thereversed T-shaped rail, the water-receiving cup is supported by thereversed T-shaped lateral rib from below and thus, it is possible todetachably hold the water-receiving cup.

A length of the power cord is determined at the time of construction,and a remaining portion of the power cord is accommodated in thebox-like accommodating portion and then, the body case is mounted to thewall. Therefore, the remaining portion of the power cord does notencumber for use and does not deteriorate the landscape.

Even when splash water is drawn from the intake opening or water entersinto the body case by the condensation, since all water is introduced tothe lowermost portion in the body case, drops to the water receiver fromthe water hole and is accumulated in the water-receiving cup. Therefore,there is no trouble in the electrical component which may be caused ifwater enters, and a floor is not wet or made dirty.

When the front case is detached at the time of construction ormaintenance, the legs of the LED are prone to fall because a hand or theLED may hit against the front case. However, if the air-blowing nozzleis mounted to the blower case, the LED head is guided from the openingof the LED holding portion provided on the tongue of the air-blowingnozzle and accommodated in the LED holding portion, and it is possibleto prevent the legs of the LED from falling in the perpendiculardirection with respect to the arrangement direction of the legs.Therefore, even if the front case is detached at the time ofconstruction or maintenance, the positions of the LED and the displayhole of the front case are not deviated from each other.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hand dryer to be mounted on a wall surface, thehand dryer comprising a body case mounted on the wall surface andcomprising a blower with an air-blowing nozzle at a lower surface of thebody case, and a water receiver disposed below said body case andremovably attached to the body case, wherein the body case and the waterreceiver form a hand-inserting space between said body case and saidwater receiver, wherein said water receiver comprises a water-receivingportion between a lower front surface, and a back surface thereof,wherein the back surface is generally parallel to and covers the wallsurface, and wherein said water receiver comprises a pair of waterreceiver sides which are connected to said back surface to constituterising portions extending, in a direction away from the wall surface,from opposite sides of said back surface, wherein said body casecomprises a pair of body case sides respectively disposed on oppositesides of said body case and extending, in a direction away from the wallsurface, from opposite sides of said body case; and wherein the waterreceiver sides comprise respective water receiver-side retainingportions on upper portions of said water receiver sides, and wherein thebody case sides comprise respective body case-side retaining portions onopposite sides of said body case, wherein said water receiver is mountedto said body case by said water receiver-side retaining portions andsaid body case-side retaining portions; and wherein the body case sidesand the water receiver sides are flush.
 2. A hand dryer according toclaim 1, wherein the water receiver-side retaining portions and the bodycase-side retaining portions further comprise latches coupling each bodycase side to the respective water receiver side.
 3. The hand dryeraccording to claim 1, comprising a guider sliding said water receiver ina vertical direction with respect to said body case and comprising awater receiver-side connection portion and a body case-side connectionportion.
 4. The hand dryer according to claim 1, wherein said backsurface comprises at its upper central portion a water receiver-fixingscrew which connects said body case to said water receiver.
 5. The handdryer according to claim 1, a water-receiving cup detachably mounted toa lower portion of said water receiver.
 6. A hand dryer to be mounted ona wall surface, the hand dryer comprising a body case mounted on thewall surface and comprising a blower with an air-blowing nozzle at alower surface of the body case, and a water receiver disposed below saidbody case and removably attached to the body case, wherein the body caseand the water receiver form a hand-inserting space between said bodycase and said water receiver, wherein said water receiver includes, at alower portion thereof, a water-receiving cup, said water receiverincludes, on a substantially central portion of a bottom thereof, areversed T-shaped rail extending in a longitudinal direction away fromthe wall surface, said water-receiving cup includes, on an upper surfacethereof, a guide groove formed by notching the upper surface from a rearportion thereof, and the guide groove is slidable on the rail.
 7. A handdryer to be mounted on a wall surface, the hand dryer comprising a bodycase mounted on the wall surface and comprising a blower with anair-blowing nozzle at a lower surface of the body case, and a waterreceiver disposed below said body case and removably attached to thebody case, wherein the body case and the water receiver form ahand-inserting space between said body case and said water receiver,wherein the body case comprises, inside an outer wall of the body case,a box-like accommodating portion for accommodating a power cord whichsupplies electricity to said blower means, wherein said box-likeaccommodating portion opens at a back side of said body case, andwherein said body case back surface is spaced from the wall surface. 8.A hand dryer to be mounted on a wall surface, the hand dryer comprisinga body case mounted on the wall surface and comprising a blower with anair-blowing nozzle at a lower surface of the body case, and a waterreceiver disposed below said body case and removably attached to thebody case, wherein the body case and the water receiver form ahand-inserting space between said body case and said water receiver,wherein said body case includes, at a lower surface thereof, an intakeopening for drawing air in said hand-inserting space by suction force ofsaid blower means, and a water hole located on a lower surface of saidbody case between said intake opening and said blower means, above saidwater receiver.